President Obama's nominees

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U.S. President Barack Obama (C) and former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NB) (L) listen as Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks during a news conference in the East Room at the White House on January 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by )

U.S. President Barack Obama (C) and former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NB) (L) listen as Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks during a news conference in the East Room at the White House on January 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by ) (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama (C) and former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NB) (L) listen as Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks during a news conference in the East Room at the White House on January 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by )